Government decides to privatize 69 enterprises, Senate notified

KARACHI: The opposition in the senate staged a walkout on Wednesday due to water shortage caused by the power outage in Hyderabad while Deputy Chairman gave ruling to bring the issue to notice of Prime Minister, ARY News reported.

Opposition Leaders of Pakistan Peoples’ Party Aitizaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani, Abdul Haseeb, Maula Baksh Chandio said all the residents of Hyderabad should be punished because of some defaulters adding that they have rights to invite Governor of Sindh for the protest if water of Hyderabad isn’t resumed.

Replying to PPP’s leader, State Minister for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali said Sindh government is defaulter of Rs. 56 billion in terms of electricity and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) is also liable to pay Rs.27 billion.

Abid Sher Ali further informed that Hyderabad Development Authority uses electricity of Rs. 580 million without paying.

The Minister ensured to resolve the matter even if Sindh government paid 50 percent dues.

Furthermore, State Minister Balighur Rehman informed that government has decided to privatize 69 public sector enterprises on priority basis.

Balighur Rehman informed senate privatization 32 enterprises will be done at earliest while secretaries for 11 institutes have been assigned.

When asked about $1.5 billion from Saudi Arabia, he informed the amount was provided as gift by Saudi Arabia in two tranches of $750 million each in February and March for the Pakistan Development Fund.